The football club has been in a temporary home at the Withdean athletics stadium since 1999.

Its planning application for a new ground on land north of Village Way, in Falmer, has been through two public inquiries and a quashed government decision last year.

Hazel Blears is due to rule on the stadium plans around 25 July

A statement from the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "Following the recent change of prime minister and subsequent changes of Cabinet positions, the new Secretary of State for Communities has decided to extend the target decision date to ensure she has sufficient time to fully consider the case.

"The decision will now be issued on or before 25 July."

All "interested parties" in the plans have been informed of the postponement.

The club's chief executive, Martin Perry, recently reiterated the need for the 23,000-seater stadium, saying: "For the supporters themselves we cannot provide them with the kind of experience that they deserve, and the facilities they need for a really good match day experience."

Changes announced earlier this week to the boundaries for a South Downs National Park mean a stadium coach park at Falmer no longer falls within the proposed park.